Document R21rr2jZ0ZBKv1kVKyJEN39j8

May 22* 19*5 AIH KAIL ' /. \ Mr. Hey Sevan* x }, T he Associated.$thyi\Ccmipany Limited* i Artillery House, \ . ..:\. f . Artillery Row* \ .: ) London* $,, W. 1* \ ,, . England./ . \ A; 2 /i \ Dear Ray; ; \ / 1 \f ; -s \ \ \ \ \ ; . v/ In the matter of the handling of high concentrations of-.Ethyl Fluid in gasoline? we are dealing with a rather difficult problem. It. would be much simpler to advise you If I knew more of the -circumstances.. I\appreciate * however * that It is impossible to transmit any such; Information* and therefore- I shall give you the best advice 'I can based '.on generalities . fo far as the toxic/properties :bf tetraethyl lead in gasoline are concerned, let /me remind you that in your volume of f,Lead Studies *3i the green book from ./this. laboratory.? there is an- article on the absorption of tetraethyl lead -.through the skin in various dilutions in gasoline. The facts briefly .are these, tetraethyl lead itself is absorbed through the skin with fair rapidity, lire Ybasorption is /hinderefi\somewhat by dilution with gasoline.. However, if the lead compound is present in gasoline to the extent of approximately IGl by volume? the absorption through the skin\is still rapid* a fatal poisoning can be brought about /by comparatively short exposures. Inis is roughly 2 i/2l by volpmei e have no figures on the speed of absorp tion at this/concentration. ; However? at ll> by volume the leal absorption out -of the gasoline is so greatly retarder] that repeated ana' somewhat prolonged exposures can be had .without rapid absorption! There is, no doubt that some absorption would take place.However? with the exercise of considerable care? this could be reduced to a minimum* and the dangers from akin absorption .would probably not be very great. As to the dangers of inhalation* I think it is fair to say that the quantities of tetraethyl lead given off from gasoline con taining 1% of the lead compound*vould be rather slight.; Pre cautions greater than those required in the handling of ordinary gasoline /ought to be taken, but the hazard here would-not be excessive so far as the finished product was concerned if the mixing operations were carried out with considerable care. On the whole I should say that/if the dosage were not too great? K f 0007229 N 7828 Mi*. Foy Bevan - (2) - May 22, 19^3 there would bo great advantage from the hygienic point of view in cropping to a concentration not In excess of 1<p of tetraethyl lead by volume. I should not want you to think that there would be no hazard in handling gasoline containing Up of tetraethyl lead. I am quite sure that there would be serious trouble if such gaso line were not handled quite carefully. Any considerable spillage would permit appreciable quantities of tetraethyl lead to evaporate after the evaporation of the more volatile gasoline. Moreover, as X have indicated above,some absorption would occur through the skin. For this reason persons should not be exposed for a very long time to the hazards of handling this gasoline. The containers should be marked in some distinc tive fashion so that they could not be confused with ordinary leaded gasoline. I think it would be quite impossible to handle such gasoline in the usual fashion and to fill small containers with it (or* even large) under the usual conditions prevailing indoors in the packaging of gasoline. Obviously,the m M n g should be carried out with the same type of precautions that are employed in the mixing plants in general. Once the gasoline has been mixed, the filling of containers should be accomplished with the least possible contact and with the least opportunity for inhalation. I would think that some scheme not wholly different from that employed in the mixing plants might be set up for filling the containers with the concentrated gasoline. Barrels or even smaller containers could be filled on some out of doors platform. Inhalation could be prevented both by natural ventilation or by use of either an airline or a canister mask. I doubt if rubber gloves should be used to prevent skin contact. I suspect that any glove will be a disadvantage rather than an advantage. Skin contact will need to be avoided as much a3 possible and provision should be made for washing the hands free of gasoline, using either kerosene or perhaps better soap and water as soon as possible after con tact has occurred. I think it would be highly advantageous to avoid this procedure if it can possible by done. On the other hand I think you will recognize from what I have said that it is not impossible to do this with safety, if the work could be confined to a few people under reasonably careful supervision. As you will recognize, once this concentrated gasoline has been diluted to the usual tir Ray Bevan - (3 ) - May 22 3 19 lO . concentrations at its destination, all the dangers I have spoken of viXI have been disposed of- Accordingly it is stay feeling that such dilution ought to he accomplished at the earliest possible time so that there will be as little opportunity as possible for the inadvertent handling and use of the concentrated product. I hope this gives you my general attitude* hut if opportunity affords Itself to give more specific Information* please let me- know as soon as possible- Sincerely yours9 iroborl- it * "teKoe *" '>' 'I 0007230